sign in sign up
<<
Home , Guan (bird), Horned guan, Mountain trogon, Scaled antpitta

Photo by Debbie Sturdivant Jordan

GUATEMALA with AUDUBON ALASKA HIGH INTENSITY! This program is for serious Flyway Expedition to ’s Highlands birders. Expect at least 6-8 hours of birding each day. November 2-12, 2018

Guatemala is a richly diverse cultural center and a lush PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS and vibrant paradise for birders. Set in the heart of Central • the lower and upper trails at Los Tarrales, America, it is one of the New World’s prime migratory with the goal of seeing the Long-tailed Manakin’s impressive courtship display. corridors. See firsthand many of the Audubon hopes to • Visit Corazon del Bosque Reserve for the chance to protect through its ongoing conservation efforts. Experience see Mountain , Spotted Woodcreeper, White- National Audubon’s Asociación Vivamos Mejor program naped Brush-Finch, and with luck, the uncommon Pink-headed Warbler. based in Panajachel on Lake Atitlán, including a training • Explore San Juan Laguna, a village known for its program for Guatemalans to become birding and nature many women’s cooperatives, and meet some of the guides. Under their guidance, you’ll explore a variety of entrepreneurs who weave traditional textiles there. , seek out rare and endemic species, and meet with • Visit with Asociación Vivamos Mejor (AVM), a private nonprofit development organization committed to locals who are part of the Audubon bird-tourism initiative in improving the quality of life of rural communities Santiago Atitlán, a hub of Maya culture. Birders who choose surrounding Lake Atitlán. to take this tour will enjoy the vast, natural riches while supporting the community and protecting a diverse ecosystem. For more information or to enroll, visit: holbrook.travel/audubonak-gu18 Support Audubon and its partners to advance sustainable development in bird hot-spots

Holbrook Travel is a supporting partner in Audubon’s conservation work in Latin America and in the . One aspect of that work is the strengthening of bird-based tourism as a conservation and sustainable development tool. As part of our Flyway Expeditions series, this program is designed to help protect key areas along the flyways for migratory and local species. As a participant on this trip, you’ll have a direct economic impact on local people and communities, help preserve IBAs, and nurture an emerging ecotourism industry. Learn more at holbrook.travel/flywayexpeditions

ITINERARY may also appear. Drive up to the higher above the tea plantations where the trails may offer sightings BLD = BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER of the Resplendent . Tody Motmots and Emerald- Toucanets, as well as deep forest species such as Singing Quail, NOVEMBER 2 - ANTIGUA Spotted Nightingale-Thrush and Scaled are also Arrive at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, present. Tonight after dinner, there will be an optional owling Guatemala. *Please schedule your flight to arrive no later than walk. Overnight at Finca Los . (BLD) 2:00 pm. Meet our local representative outside the airport after clearing immigration and customs and transfer to Antigua, NOVEMBER 5 - LOS TARRALES RESERVE about an hour away depending on traffic. This evening enjoy a Enjoy early morning birding around the lodge followed by welcome talk pertaining to your upcoming journey. Overnight breakfast. Afterwards transfer to Finca Los Tarrales, located a at Hotel Posada Don Rodrigo Antigua. (D) short distance from Finca Los Andes, on the flanks of the same mountain. However, the elevation and humidity profile differ NOVEMBER 3 - LOS ANDES PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE and so does the bird life, with from both lowland and After breakfast, travel to Finca El Pilar, a private reserve within highland habitats, and good access to various types of forest. a great - forest, full of excellent birding trails. Walk the Los Tarrales ranges in altitude from 700 to 3,500 m (2,300 to trails looking for various species and visit the hummingbird 11,500 ft) and is home to diverse wildlife, including more than feeders. In the afternoon, continue to Finca Los Andes, 340 bird species. The reserve is part of the Atitlán Important located at the southern slope of the Atitlán Volcano. The Bird Area, and harbors 21 regional endemic bird species, that lies between the tea gardens and the coffee including Horned , , Azure-rumped fields is abundant in wildlife, especially birds, among them Tanager, and Blue-tailed Hummingbird. The abundance of the elusive . Los Andes is also home to migratory birds here, including Swainson’s Thrush, Tennessee, the rare Cabanis’s Tanager, also known as the Azure-rumped Magnolia, and Black-and-white Warblers, Western Tanager, Tanager. This small, blue, exquisite bird’s highly localized and Orchard Oriole, is impressive. It is a good place for raptors is shared by hundreds of local and migrating species, as well, including the Black Hawk-Eagle, and sometimes the including a host of , orioles, flycatchers, gorgeous Black-and-white . Morning and evening are and motmots. Sixty percent of the reserve is original forest, great times for spotting commuting , with four species most of it along the slopes of the dormant volcano. In 2001, of parakeets and parrots typically seen. During the two full Los Andes was declared a private nature reserve, and it is days here, you will bird the lower and upper trails,and work a founding member of Guatemala’s Association of Private on finding some great diversity of birds. Search for Long-tailed Nature Reserves. The Reserve works closely with the residents Manakins. During lunch take some time to enjoy the feeders to promote self-sufficiency, health and education. Present where Orchard, Altamira, Spot-breasted and Baltimore Orioles programs for conservation include artificial nests for the come to feed along with Rufous-naped Wrens and Yellow- . The reserve has a reforestation program approved by throated Euphonias. Overnight at Finca Los Tarrales. (BLD) INAB (The National Forestry Institute), as well as eucalyptus planted for firewood. Coffee and quinine prunings also NOVEMBER 6 - LOS TARRALES RESERVE supply lumber and firewood. Financial and technical assistance Continue birding in the Los Tarrales Private Reserve. The are provided to buy and install efficient wood burning stoves in reserve is private and self-sustained; costs for its conservation the workers’ houses. Los Andes has its own hydroelectric plant, are covered from income generated in the zone, (coffee, which generates all the power used on the estate. Overnight at ornamentals, and honey) and through tourism services. Finca Los Andes. (B) Sixty Maya Kaqchikel families live within the protected area, working in coffee and/or ornamentals production, as forest NOVEMBER 4 - LOS ANDES PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE rangers and in tourism. Several enthusiastic and knowledgeable Start today with birding at the reserve. Hummingbird feeders local guides will help you spot wildlife, specifically birds, and at the lodge may attract the Blue-tailed Hummingbird as well explain the production of coffee and ornamental plants. Los as Violet and Rufous Sabrewings. The rare Wine-throated Tarrales is providing social services for the people living within the protected area. A private primary school is run in the hotel. Before dinner meet a representative of Asociación to ensure the children’s education. Classes in nature, science, Vivamos Mejor and learn more about their work with local and conservation are included in the educational program. communities surrounding Lake Atitlán. Overnight at Hotel Overnight at Finca Los Tarrales. (BLD) Posada Don Rodrigo Panajachel. (BLD)

NOVEMBER 7 - SANTIAGO, LAKE ATITLÁN NOVEMBER 11 - GUATEMALA CITY Following morning birding, transfer to the town of Santiago This morning visit Corazon del Bosque, a reserve located higher Atitlán in time for lunch. In the afternoon, there will be up in the oak-pine forest zone. The star bird at Corazon del opportunities to see a few new species. With some luck, you Bosque is the gorgeous and uncommon Pink-headed Warbler. may glimpse the uncommon Slender Sheartail hummingbird or While looking for the warbler you might survey the Mountain the unique looking Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow. Santiago Atitlán Trogon, Spotted Woodcreeper, Yellowish Flycatcher, Rufous- is a hub of Maya culture and there may be an opportunity to browed Wren, Olive Warbler, Crescent-chested Warbler, White- meet some locals who are part of the Audubon bird tourism naped Brush-Finch and the local form of the Yellow-eyed Junco, initiative. The National Audubon Society has partnered which many consider a separate species: the Guatemalan Junco. with Asociación Vivamos Mejor (AVM), a private nonprofit After our visit, head to Guatemala City and enjoy lunch at a development organization committed to improving the quality local restaurant en route. Arrive in Guatemala City in the late of life of rural communities surrounding Lake Atitlán. AVM afternoon, followed by free time and then a farewell dinner at focuses on Sustainable Watersheds and Resiliency to Climate the hotel. Hotel Radisson (BLD) Change as a strategy for promoting sustainable development. Along with the primary group leader, each location will have a NOVEMBER 12 - FAREWELL! local guide involved. Overnight at Hotel Bambú. (BLD) Transfer to Guatemala City Airport to take your flight home. Breakfast will be available depending on your flight time.(B) NOVEMBER 8 - SANTIAGO, LAKE ATITLÁN This morning enjoy birding at Parque Mirador del Rey Tepepul, a 3,500-hectare park of mostly forest with a wide altitudinal range. Although new to the bird tourism scene, this LAND PRICING park has great birds, including the Yellow-naped , Blue- crowned Chlorophonia, and the Azure-rumped Tanager. In the $2,700 per person afternoon, transfer to San Juan La Laguna. San Juan La Laguna is a wonderful village with an incredible number of women’s With the maximum of 12 participants the price will be cooperatives and women’s groups. The groups do fine weaving $2,525. Cost includes meals, accommodations, and activities of textiles, with natural dyed fabrics, on the traditional back as indicated in the itinerary, private transportation, bottled strap loom and, less frequently, the Spanish floor loom. This water on the bus, full-time guide, and carbon offset. Your afternoon we will have time to explore the village. Overnight at participation supports Audubon Alaska and National Hotel Bambú. (BLD) Audubon’s International Alliances Program. Does not include international airfare, estimated at $1,200 NOVEMBER 9 - SANTIAGO, LAKE ATITLÁN from Anchorage, gratuities for guide or driver, alcoholic Bird tourism is also new to the San Juan La Laguna area. beverages, or items of a personal nature. Seek out the rare and gorgeous Belted Flycatcher along the lower slopes of a volcano. You may also come across the Lesser Roadrunner and other dry forest species, such as Prevost’s Ground-Sparrow. Participants who are up for the challenge THE FINE PRINT can try the hike to Volcán San Pedro, and the chance to see the . The hike to find the Horned Guan is Cost is based on 10 participants in double occupancy; a limited very difficult and strenuous, and not for everyone, nor does number of single rooms may be available for an additional cost. it guarantee a sighting of the rare bird. Overnight at Hotel A $200 per person deposit and enrollment form are required to Bambú. (BLD) reserve your space on the trip. This deposit is refundable excluding a $100 cancellation fee until July 30, 2018 at which time non- NOVEMBER 10 - PANAJACHEL refundable final payment is due. Travel/trip cancellation insurance In the morning venture out for a boat ride to Parque is strongly recommended. For more information call Travel Insured Tzankujil to San Marcos La Laguna, which has excellent at 800-243-3174 or visit www.travelinsured.com. Holbrook dry forest and the opportunity to spot the showy Sparkling- Travel’s agency number is 15849. tailed Hummingbird. This is also a great spot for wintering warblers, resident orioles including the Bar-winged Oriole, the Bushy-crested Jay, and even the skulking Blue-and-white Mockingbird. Spend the morning here birding, have lunch This program includes optional carbon offsetting with and then travel to Panajachel. This afternoon is free to enjoy ClimateSafe. Learn more at holbrooktravel.com/climatesafe some shopping or relax and take in views of Lake Atitlán from FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ENROLL PHOTOS BY Visit holbrook.travel/audubonak-gu18 or contact Debbie Sturdivant Photos by Debbie Sturdivant Jordan, Sandy Schmidt Jordan at 866-748-6146 or [email protected]